Blackboard cleaner



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,672

T. W. THOMPSON BLACK BOARD CLEANER H Filed Oct.28. 1925 Q i 7T PVT/201105011 INVENTOR Patented Oct. 23, 1928.

UNITED "STATES THOMAS W. THOMPSON, OF FREELA'ND PARK, INDIANA.

BLACKBOARD CLEANER.

Application filed October 28, 1925.

In the class rooms of schools the black boards are generally cleaned bythe ordinary eraser-s. This method is not altogether satisfactory as theeraser becomes impregnated with the chalk dust and is not effectiveinthe cleaning operation but'a greater ob ection is the fact that thechalk dust is circulated throughout the class room during such cleaningoperation and inflicts in ury on the throats and nostrils of the teacherand pupils.

The object of this invention is the provision of means whereby a sprayof water may be forcibly directed over the black boards to efiect thecleaning thereof and wherein said water is allowed to drip through thereticulated covering of a trough that has lt-s outlet end connected witha sewer, the said cover of the trough providing a rest for the chalksticks and for the usual erasers.

A further object is the provision of a means for this purpose which maybe readily installed, easily operated and not liable to breakage ordisorder.

To the attainment of the above broadly stated objects and others whichwill appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,reference is to be had to the drawings which accompany and form part ofthis application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a face view of the improvement.

Figure 2 is a sectional view approxlmately on the line 22 of Figure 1.

A side wall of a class room is in the drawings indicated by thenumeral 1. The black board is indicated by the numeral 2. The blackboard has its top secured to a longitudinal cleat 3 and the said blackboard is arranged at an outward angle with respect to the wall 1 asdisclosed by Figure 2 of the drawings. The angular arrangement of theblack board 2 is obtained by the contacting engagement of the inner andlower edge thereof with the inner wall 4 of a trough 5. The bottom ofthe trough is arranged at an angle and the deepest portion of the troughhas connected thereto an outlet pipe 6 which in turn is connected to asewer pipe or directly to the sewer in the school building. The trough,adjacent to its open top, is formed with cleats or flanges that providea rest for a reticulated frame 7. This frame supports thereon the eraserand the chalk sticks.

The numeral 8 designates the water inlet pipe. This pipe may enter theclass room Serial No. 65,453.

from the floor or from the ceilingthereof and the How of water throughthe pipe 8 is controlled bya hand operated valve 9. The pipe 8 may havebranches that provide conductors for water into other class rooms. Thepipe 8 is connected, at one end, to a longitudinally extending pipe 10and is arranged above the black board 2, the said pipe 10 beingsupported by suitable brackets 11. The outlet end of the pipe 10 iscoupled to a downwardly directed pipe 12, the said pipe 12 having avalve controlled branch 13, coupled to the outlet pipe 6. The lower endof the pipe 12 has connected thereto a faucet 14. The faucet may supplywater to the class room and may have a hose attached thereto in case offire occurring in the class room or in any other places of the school.

The black board, as disclosed by Figure 1 of the drawings, is dividedinto sections, which for distinction are indicated in Figure 1 by thenumerals 15 and 16, rsepectively.

Connected by suitable couplings to the pipe 10 there are valvecontrolled pipes 17 directed downwardly toward the respective sections15 and 16 of the black board 2. The pipes 17 are secured by brackets 18to the cleat 3, and the respective series of the pipes 17 are coupled tolongitudinally extending pipes 19. The pipes 19 may provide separatemembers or there may be a plug stopping the passage between the pipes 19at the juncture of the black board sections 15 and 16. The pipes 19 havetheir lower inner faces'provided. with longitudinal series of apertures20 and whereby water, when let through the pipe 8 and the pipes 17 willbe directed against the faces of either or both of the black boardsections in accordance with the opening or closing of the valves thatcontrol the passages through the pipes 17. Secured on the top of thecleat 3 there is an upwardly and downwardly curved preferably metalguard 21. The lower and outer end of the guard is disposed below thecleat and slightly out of contact with the black board 2. Of course, theguard is provided with openings through which the pipes 17 pass. Theguard 21 prevents the outward splashing of water let through theapertured or preforated pipes 19 and directs the water forcibly againstthe faces of the black board so that the same will be effectivelycleaned.

By a device as above described, black boards may be easily andeffectively cleaned by the janitor of a school building after schoolhours,

and the liability of the circulation of dust from the chalk sticks willbe effectively prevented. In order to flush the trough 5 there isarranged between the pipe 8 and the reduced end of the said trough avalve controlled pipe 22.

The valve of pipe 22 controlling the flow of Water to the chalk troughmay be adjusted so that the water will run into the trough while thehoards are being used, thereby keeping the trough flushed and clear ofchalk dust Without interfering with the use of the board.

The simplicity and advantages of the construction will, it is thought,be perfectly apparent tothose skilled in the art to which suchinventionsrelate, when the foregoing description has been carefully readin connection with the accompanying drawings. It

is to be understood that I am not to be restricted to the precisedetails herein recited and am entitled to such changes therefrom asfairly fall within the scope of what I claim without departing orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim A cleaning system forblackboards comprising a blackboard having its lower edge spaced fromthe wall to thereby set the blackboard at an angle to the vertical, aperforated water pipe connected to a water supply system arranged at theto of the blackboard, a metal guard enclosing tie water pipe whereby thewater striking the guard is forcibly directed against the blackboard.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THOMAS W. THOMPSON.

